Shǐguān (史官) literally means 'history officer' — combining 史 (shǐ), meaning 'history' or 'historiography', and 官 (guān), meaning 'official' or 'government officer'. Historically, shǐguān were appointed scholars in imperial Chinese courts whose duty was to record daily court events, royal decrees, military campaigns, natural phenomena, and other significant occurrences with strict objectivity and moral responsibility. They were not merely chroniclers but held a revered, quasi-judicial role — expected to document truthfully even when it reflected poorly on the emperor.

Though the official position no longer exists, the term appears frequently in historical texts, academic discussions of traditional Chinese historiography, and cultural references to integrity in record-keeping. It evokes ideals of scholarly independence, ethical duty, and the weight of preserving collective memory. Modern usage is almost exclusively literary or historical, never used for contemporary government archivists or journalists.